Hair holding device



Feb. 23, 1965 N. SOLOMON 3,170,470

HAIR HOLDING DEVICE Filed June 21, 1960 I v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR. A/Ar/MA/ L. 50101140 BY United States Patent O 3,170,470 HAIR HOLDING DEVICE Nathan L. Solomon, P.0. Box 550, Englewood, NJ. Filed June 21, 1960, Ser. No. 37,779 13 Claims. (Cl. 132-46) This invention relates to a hair holding device and more particularly relates to a device employed for clamping the hair to maintain the hair in a formed curl.

In forming curls and setting the hair in the form of waves, it is customary to form a portion of the hair in a relatively tight, circular curl or flat thin curl which then is set by holding the curl in position or shape over night or by the application of permanent waving solutions. The formed curl is commonly referred to as fiat, pin or sculptured curls. Conventional devices for holding the curl in flat position are subject to a number of well known ditficulties and disadvantages which have prompted many proposals to remedy them. Probably the most widely used holding device is the ordinary bobby pin. Since the formation of the curl requires the use of one hand to hold it in position, the hobby pin requires unusual manual dexterity or dangerous use of the teeth in self application is separating its prongs. Care must be exercised in inserting the bobby pin in the hair because its flat and narrow prongs may dig into the scalp. In addition, the bobby pins snap spring tension, which largely concentrates the pressure at a localized point, combined with the narrow overlapping form of its holding prongs, tends to kink the curl and mar the appearance of the resulting wave when the curl is brushed out. Indeed the kinking action may actually break individual hairs, which is harmful in itself but further aggravated if a wave setting solution is employed.

The overlapping holding members of a bobby pin must be in tight spring tension engagement in order to secure the smaller thinner curls and are therefore too tight for bulkier curls. No controllable adjustment of the spring tension is practical. Once the bobby pin is opened or relieved of the tension to accommodate the bulkier curl, it cannot be retightened to hold thinner curls. Thus, a basic difiiculty in the use and operation with the bobby pin is that its entire holding capacity depends upon preset, spring tension produced by pinching the two holding members together over a wire form so that they are left in coincident and touching relationship joined at one end by a spring arch. Once the pin is opened too wide by excessive force in the effort to open it or to engage too large a curl, the pin is sprung and all spring tension is lost. Further, the spring tensioned prongs make it diflicult to remove the hobby pin from the hair without catching strands of hair, or even pulling out and breaking the individual strands. However, the bobby pin despite the disadvantages owes its wide popularity to its low cost and light weight.

Many expedients have been proposed in an effort to remedy these disadvantages and provide a more satisfactory pin curl holding device. Modified variations of the original hairpin have been proposed but they have been unsatisfactory because they are difficult to apply, unsatisfactory in firmly retaining all portions of the curl in position or inclined towards kinking the hair when tensioned for firm holding. More successful have been the various hinged and spring'locked clasps and clips. These articles are relatively easy to apply but are uncomfortable and conspicuous for the wearer. The hinge construction increases the cost of manufacturing and in use causes discomfort by often tangling the hair. Moreover, the hinged construction is associated with broader and larger holding members and are normally, relatively ice [heavy when used in large quantities, which is normally required for a satisfactory hair curling operation. A still further disadvantage, is these hinged and spring lock clasps and clips require and depend for their holding action on spring engaged touching elements or rotating hinge elements. Accordingly, they cannot be coated as a practical matter with a protective paint or varnish for use with a hair waving solution. With the wide use today of home permanents and the self application of wave-setting solutions, it is desirable if not essential, that a hair retaining device be resistant to the chemicals in these solutions. Due to the resiliency required in operation of a hair retaining device as well as for durability and long use, a spring metal construction is preferred.- To use such a steel with the corrosive tendencies of these hair-waving solutions requires coating the metal with a protective layer of acid or alkali resistant material, hence making any construction which has sliding or rotating spring elements not preferred for use with these hair-waving solutions since it normally results in corrosion, unsightly stains and disturbing discoloration. Other proposed hair retaining devices utilize uneven tensioning of clip arms to cause clamping of the hair. While this type clip is easy to use it is relatively expensive to produce and often catches strands of hair in the tensioning means causing discomfort to the user.

Accordingly a need exists for a light weight durable, inexpensive hair holding device which is easy to apply to the hair and which will maintain itself from accidental disengagement therefrom and can be used safely with hair waving setting solutions and yet cause no discomfort to the wearer.

Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide a one piece curl holding device that is self opening and which can be easily applied with one hand.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a hair holding device which slips readily into place on a curl without requiring a separate act of opening for separating the holding members during the placing operation.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a curl holding device which is light weight and resilient and which provides low tension, spring action for holding the curl firmly without pinching the hair or causing discomfort.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a hair holding clasp which is operated under the influence of finger or thumb and finger pressure to effect opening and closing of the clasp and which distributes retaining pressure over a large area for avoiding any stress concentration.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a curl holding clasp which is formed to provide a distortion of a portion of at leastone clamping member under the influence of pressure thereon, so as to effect snap action thereof in opposite directions to obtain alternate, positive clamping and opening or separation of the clamping portions.

Another object is to provide a clamp always self open and ready to apply and which is placed in operative clamping position by simple compressive force on the clamping arms, and which can be operated even if the clamp and hands of the user are coated with wave setting lotion, which is highly lubricating.

A further object is to provide a hair holding device which can hold curls of various thickness without loss of resiliency and which can be freely removed from the curl without catching strands of hair.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a clamping device that accomplishes all of the above and yet is light weight, durable and inexpensive to fabricate, allows moisture in the hair to freely evaporate, is

. vention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view showing the clip of FIGURE 1 in its open position;

FIGURE 3 is a modification of the clip shown in FIG- URE ,2 showing the center leg prebent and spaced from the body of the clip;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view showing another form of the one piece, coplanar clip;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational, cross-sectional view taken along line -,15 of FIGURE 4 showing the clip open;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to that shown in FIG- URE 5, but showing the clip in its clamping position;

FIGURE 7 is a plan View of a further embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 8 is a side elevationalview showing the clip of FEGURE 7 in its closed position;

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of a still further embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 10 is a side elevational view of the clip shown in FIGURE 9 in its open position;

FIGURE 11 is a side elevational'view of the clip shown in FIGURE 9 in its clamping position;

FIGURE 12 is a plan view of another embodiment'of the present invention;

FIGURE 13 is a side elevational view of the clip shown in FIGURE 12 in its open position; and I FIGURE 14 is a side elevational view-of the clip shown in FIGURE 12 in its clamping. position. i

For hair holding devices of this general type, it is invention is formed of a single blank of material 86 as seen in FIGURES l and 2. Blank 86 is stamped so that a finger 88 is formed therein leaving the remainder of the blank 86 forming the other leg. Finger 83 is cantileverly mounted to blank. as and isenclosed within the eripheral edges of blank 86 for forming a continuous band thereabout. Band 90 has two longitudinally extending legs 94 and 96 respectively on opposite sides of finger 88. Legs 94and as each have a longitudinal slit $98 and 1% respectively, Slit 98 divides leg 94 into .two portions 162 and 104 respectively, and similarly slit Edi divides leg 96 into two portions I106 and 1&8

respectively. One surface of each of legs 94 and 95 is permanently flexed and depressed in a direction similar to each other. As shown in FIGURE 1, outer portions 1M and 106 are vertically flexed and permanently deformed causing band 90 to assume an outwardly directed longitudinally extending curvature with respect to finger 8d. The deformed surfaces of portions 1% and res are preferably permanently flexed by drawing or stretching, by means of a vertically applied force, whereby the surfaces IM- and 1% become longer than either surfaces 102 and 108, or stated oppositely, surfaces 192 and 198 are made shorter than surfaces 164 and 1%. Hence, portions of the surfaces of each of legs 94-and 96 of band 99 are permanently deformed. In'the clips open position, finger 88 and band 96 are substantially separated, allowing hair or a curl to be placed easily therebetween. By exerting a closing force on band 90,

it is snapped into firm engagement with the material disposed between band and finger 83 and tightly grips the same. To open the clip and release the hair being held, all that is necessary is to exert a separating or outwardly directed force on band 90 for snapping band iii into its opened position which is shown in FIGURE 2. Also a compressive force exerted on outwardly displaced deformed portions 104 and 1% would also snap open the clip. The hair is then easily removed. If desired leg 88 may be crimped or corrugated as shown at 110 to aid in preventing accidental displacement of the clip from the hair. It is thus seen that the band W is alternately displaced in opposite directions from finger 83, and consequently effects a clamping action therewith.

FIGURE 3 shows a modified form of the embodiment shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 where center leg 83 is provided with a transverse off-set 114 for allowing greater separation of clamping members 88 and 90 in their open position. The amount of off-set providedby bend 114 should be such that finger 88 is able to be contacted by band'9i), when the clip is in its closed position. Further, while both sides of band 90 have slits therein as shown, if desired, only one slit may be used'on one side for deforming the surface of only one'leg of band 29. While deforming a single surface of band 9% does not provide as strong a clamping action as the embodiment shown, it may .be sufiicient for certain purposes..-.Also, the free end of member 9i may be prebent in an outward direction for aiding and receiving hair.

FIGURES 4 through '6- show another form or'the inventionhaving a surface of the outer band permanently deformed and stressed. A clip denoted generally at 25% is punched from a piece of flexible material 254. A finger 252 is cut in piece254' within the peripheral edges of piece 254 for forming a band 256 thereabout. On each of longitudinally extending portions 258 and 26%) of band 256 is formed a vertically extending depression 262 and 264 respectively. Depressions 262 and 264 may be concave-convex shaped and may have various peripheral shapes such as round, oblong, etc. .Depressions 252 and 264 are displaceable in opposite directions with respect to the surface of band255.

In its open position, illustrated in FIGURE 5, band 256 is longitudinally curved away from finger 252.

Upon hair being placed between the clamping members, the user simply presses the outer ends of finger 252 and band 255 onto the hair to be clamped therebetween. The inward pressure forces depressions2e2 and 264- to be oppositely displaced forsnapping the free end of band 256 towards finger 252 for clamping. the material placed therebetween.

To remove the clamp from operative clamping position, clamping members 252 and 256 are separated. Ad-

256 to its normally open position is easily accomplished by one hand of the user.

A further embodiment is shown in FIGURES 7 and 8 in which a clip 12% is formed from a single piece blank 122. Blank 122 has a pair of cantileverly mounted parallel, spaced apart legs 124 and 126 punched therefrom. Legs 124- and 126 are joined to an end 1280f blank 122. Advantageously, each of legs 124 and 1 .26 is provided with an off-set bend 130, adjacent its attached end, as shown best in FIGURE 8.- Hence, legs 124 and 126 are preferably parallel and are displaced vertically from the remainder of blank 122'leaving elongated apertures 125 and 127 where legs 124 and 126 were respectively punched. Apertures 125 and 127 divide blank 122 into a plurality of longitudinal portions 131, 134 and 136. Advantageously intermediate portion 134 has a vertically oriented crimp 129 placed therein intermediate of its ends for shortening intermediate port-ion 134 in length relative to portions 131 and 136. Also, intermediate portion 134 may be corrugated or have a plurality of crimps placed therein.

This shortening of portion 134 causes blank 122 to assume a concavo-convex shape for either separation or closing with respect to legs 124 and 126. Portion 134 is thus flexed in a direction opposite to portions 131 and 136 for'exerting the snap action previously described. The greater the shortening of intermediate portion 134 with respect to the outer portions 131 and 136, the greater the longitudinal curvature and snap action obtained from the clip. A curl 133 placed between blank 122 and legs 124 and 126 is clamped between these clamping members upon exerting pressure on their respective ends. Clip 120, as illustrated, in clamping position has crimp 129 disposed in the center of curl 133 with the flat surfaces of the clip clamping the curl thereby holding the curl in positively with uniform tension without crimp- I ing or marking the hair.

A further embodiment is disclosed in FIGURES 9 through 11 in which a clip 148 is formed from an elongated piece of thin flexible material and which has a finger 152 cut therein. Finger 152 is cantileverly supported from one end and is completely enclosed by a band 158. Advantageously longitudinal edges 154 and 156 are spaced from the internal peripheral edges of band 150. Band 150 is vertically deformed at portions adjacent the throat of finger 152 indicated generally at 158 and 160 respectively. This deformation occurs by a deforming foroe directed perpendicularly to the blank, such as by localized cold working. In a similar manner the blank is vertically deformed at portions of band 151) opposite the tip of finger 152 indicated generally at 163. Vertically deforming band 150 at portion-s 158, 160 and 163 permanently expands band 150 laterally outward-1y such as indicated generally at 162, 164, 166 and 168.

The permanent displacement of band 158 deforms band 151) causing it to assume a longitudinal curvature 'as seen best in FIGURE 20. Band 150 is normally curved longitudinally away from finger 152, and curl clamping device 148 is always ready to use. Hair 178 is illustratively placed between the surfaces of band 150 and finger 152. A closing force is exerted on the end of band 150 thereby snapping it into clamping position as shown in FIGURE 11 for positively clamping hair 170 between band 158 and finger 152. If desired, clamp 148 can be slidably removed from hair 178 without resnapping the clamp toits open position and without disturbing the curl of catching strands of air. When the hair is removed,

clamping band 150 snaps on past finger 152 the position indicated by the dotted line 172 in FIGURE 11. Clamping device 148 is then ready for another clamping operation merely by turning the clamp over 180 to assume the position as shown in FIGURE 10.

While the embodiment shown in FIGURES 9-11 was a single piece, the same result is obtainable by using two pieces. One piece is the band, which is laterally deformed in a manner similar to that described above, with the localized vertical deformation occurring at the corners of the inner edge surface. The finger or tongue can be mounted to the base in any convenient manner such as by welding, riveting, brazing, etc. The same snap action clamp is obtained as that described above.

Another modified form of this embodiment is shown in FIGURES 12 to 14 where a hair curling clip 188 is formed from a strip or piece of flexible material 186. Piece 186 has a pair of longitudinally extending, parallel, and spaced apart arms 182 and 184 out therein. Arms 182 and 184 dividestrip 186 into three elongated areas designated generally at 188, 190 and192. Arms 182 and 184 are downwardly bent adjacent each of their ends which are attached to strip 186 as indicated at 194 and 196 respectively for off-setting arms 182 and 184 from the surface of piece 186, as seen best in FIGURES 13 and 14. In a manner generally similar to the embodiment described above with respect to FIGURES 9 through 11 a perpendicular deforming force is directed against predetermined areas of strip 186 adjacent the areas to which arms 182 and 184 are attached, as indicated at 198 and 201), causing a permanent deformation of strip 186 at 282 and 284 respectively. Similar perpendicular forces are directed against predetermined areas of strip 186 adjacent the tips of arms 182 and 184 indicated generally at 285 and 207, for deforming strip 186 as shown at 206 and 288 respectively in FIGURE 12. These perpendicular deforming forces may be localized cold working of the material and cause longitudinal areas 188 and 192 to assume a concave-convex shape for forcing strip 186 away from arms 182 and 184 as seen best in FIGURE 13.

In a manner similar to that described above, clip is placed in its clamping position by exerting a closing force on the edge of strip 186 for snapping strip 186 towards arms 182 and 184 for holding hair 218 in position as seen best in FIGURE 14. In its closed position, outer areas 188 and 192 are snapped to their outward position and thereby forcing center strip against hair 2119. To open the clip, an outward force is exerted on the tip of strip 186 or a downward force is exerted on the concavo-convex areas 188 and 192 and the arms separate to the position shownin FIGURE 13.

While localized vertical deformation was shown applied to both ends of the clips shown in FIGURES 9 and 12, satisfactory spring action is obtained by applying the deformation only at one end. However, a stronger clamping force is obtained where the vertical deforming force is applied at both ends of the clip.

A hair holding device is thus disclosed which achieves important practical advantages. The hair holding device stays open to receive the hair or curl and is placed in its closed or clamping position by simple and easy manipulation of the fingers of the user. This, of course, is an imting lotion which has high lubricating qualities, which often caused annoyance to the user formerly squeezing the two-piece, spring urged curl clips heretofore used. The clips as shown may be easily perforated to provide free and uninterrupted evaporation of the moisture of the hair. The hair holding device disclosed allows easy and proper placement in the hair by using only one hand and the ends can be rounded to avoid any scraping of the scalp and is safe for all age groups including the very young. The hair holding device provides gentle, uniform pressure on the hair strands for holding the hair in place and is positively retained in thehair. If the clip is made of flexible material, it assumes the curvature of the head of the user throughout the length of the clip and is thus a great aid for those who set their hair at night and sleep with them.

While metal is preferred for the hair retaining device, other materials may be used such as synthetic plastics such as nylon. v

While the embodiments shown in FIGURES 1-9 the deformation was applied to the outer band, it could also be applied to the elongated finger or tongue. However, better clamping force is obtained from placing the deformation in the band as illustrated. Also, the depressions and deformed portions of the clamps disclosed can be interchangeably used with the various types of clips shown. Further, the holding force of the clip is increased by increasing the deformation and the dimensions of the members.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be understood that many variations thereof will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit thereof. Therefore it is intended that the foregoing shall be deemed illustrative only and not construed in a limiting sense, the present, invention being defined solely by the claims granted to me.

I claim:

1. A one piece clamp comprising an elongated mem ber of resilient sheet material having an integral longitudinally extending finger cut therein intermediate of the peripheral edges of said member and forming a continuous peripheral band thereabout, said band being substantially concavo-convex shaped, a portion of said band being permanently deformed intermediate of its ends, said deformed portion extending beyond the surface of said band and being'displaceable in opposite directions with respect to the remainder of said band and remaining in said displaced position, said band and said finger being normally spaced apart longitudinally whereby the outer end of said band is displaced toward said finger in response to a force exerted on said band towards said finger for locking said bandin cooperative clamping relation with respect to said finger.

2. A one piece clamp comprising a sheet of flexible thin material having a pair of spaced apart, longitudinally ex tending fingers cut therein intermediate of the peripheral edges of said sheet so that a continuous band is formed about each finger, said fingers dividing said sheet into three longitudinal areas, an intermediate portion of one of said areas having a vertically oriented crimp for shortening said one area and causing said'other longitudinal areas to assume a concave-convex curved shape, said other areas being displaceable in opposite directions in relation to the intermediate area, one end of said band being adapted to be snapped into and out or" clamping relation with said fingers in response to a force selectably exerted on said band.

3. A one piece clamp comprising a sheet of flexible thin material having a pair of spaced apart longitudinaliy extending fingers cut therein intermediate of the peripheral edges of said sheet to form a continuous band about each finger, said fingers being longitudinally spaced from said sheet for providing elongated apertures in said sheet, said apertures dividing said sheet into three longitudinal areas,

an intermediate portion of one of said areas being peroperating pair of clamping members, said band having a vertically oriented depression therein intermediate of its ends for causing said band to assume a concave-convex shape, said band being displaceable in opposite directions alternately with respect to the free end of said, finger in response to a selected force applied to snap said members towards and away from each other, thereby maintaining said clamp open or closed.

5. A one piece clamp comprising an elongatedpiece of flexible sheetmaterial having an integral longitudinally extending finger cut therein inter-mediate of the peripheral edges of said piece for forming a continuous periph-eral band thereabout, said finger being spaced from theinner edges of said band, portions of sad band being workhardened and causing said band to assume a longitudinally curved convex-concavo shape and vertically spaced from one surface of said finger, an intermediate longitudinal portion of said band being vertically displaceable in opposite directions with respect to the free end ofsaid band, whereby the free end of said band is snapped towards said finger response to a closing force exerted on said band for clamping material disposed between said band and said finger, upon removal of said material said band springing past saidfinger and assuming a longitudinally concavo-convex shape spaced away from the opposite surface of said finger.

6. A clamp comprising an elongated piece of flexible material having an integral longitudinally extending finger cut therein intermediate of the peripheral edges of ai piece for forming a continuous peripheral band thereabout, said finger joined at oneend to said band and normally spaced apart from said band throughout the remainder of its length, said band having a vertically. oriented permanent deformation adjacent the intersection of said band and said finger causing it to assume a longitudinally concavo-convex shape, an intermediate portion of said band being vertically displaceable in relation to the free I end of said band in response to inward pressure on said band toward said finger for spring urging the free end of said band toward said finger.

7. A one piece clamp comprising an elongated member of resilient sheet material having an integral longitudinally extending finger cut therein intermediate of its peripheral edges for forming a continuous peripheral band thereabout, portions of said band adjacent opposite longitudinal ends of said finger being permanently deformed vertically and causing said band to assume a longitudinally convex-concavo curved shape, intermediate longitudinal portions of said band being vertically displaceable in opposite directions'with respect to the free: end of said band, whereby the outer end of said band is displaced toward and away from said finger in response to a selective directional force exerted on said member.

8. A one piece clamp comprising an elongatedmember of resilient sheet material having an integrai longitudinally extending finger cut therein intermediate of its peripheral edges for forming a continuous peripheral band thereabout, a portion of said band adjacent a longitudinal end of said finger having a permanent, vertically oriented deformation therein and causing said band to assume a convex-concavo curved shape, intermediate longitudinal portions of said band being vertically displaceable in opposite directions with respect to the free end of said band,

whereby the outer end of said band is displaced toward.

and away from said finger in response to a selective directional force exerted on said member. i

9. A clip comprising an elongated member of flexible thin material having an integral longitudinally extending finger cut therein intermediate of the peripheral edges of said member, a longitudinal portion of said 'memberhaving a depression in one face which extends outwardly from the other face, said depression causing said member to assume a 'concavo-convex shape and tube displaceable in opposite directions with respect to said finger, so that saidmember'is adapted to be snapped toward and away from said finger.

10. A clip comprising an elongated member of flexible sheet material having an integral longitudinally extending finger cut therein intermediate of the peripheral edges of said member, a longitudinal portion of said member having corrugations impressed therein, said corrugations causing said member to assume a concave-convex shape and to be displaceable in opposite directions with respect to said finger, so that said member is adapted to be snapped toward and away from said finger.

11. A one-piece clip comprising an elongated con tinuous piece of flexible sheet material having a pair of spaced apart arms in generally coplanar relationship, and means integrally connecting said arms adjacent corresponding ends, and a longitudinally extending finger integrally extending from one of said end means in the same direction as said arms, one of said arms being permanently flexed by impressing a permanent deformation in one surface causing said arm'to assume a concavoconvex shape and to be snapable in opposite directions. with respect to said finger so that said arm is movable toward and away from said finger.

and parallel relationship and means integral with said legs ,joining the respective ends of said legs, and an elongated finger integral with one of said leg-joining means, each of said legs having at leastone crimp impressed in at least one face extending a portion of the distance across said face which expand the metal and constrain it to its concavo-convex shape, whereby the snapping member is angled transversely and movable between opened and closed concavo-convex positions, for insertion of hair and the like between the finger and the snapping member, said finger being substantiallyrparallel to the snapping member in its closed position for compressing hair and the. like therebetween.

13. A one-piece clip comprising an elongated continuous piece of flexible sheet material having a pair of spaced-apart arms in generally coplanarrelationship, and means integrally connecting said arms adjacent corresponding ends, and a longitudinally extending finger integrally extending from one of said end means in the same direction as said arms, one of said arms being permanently 1% flexed by impressing corrugations in one surface causing said arm to assume a concavo-convex shape and to be snapable in opposite directions with respect to said finger so that said arm is movable toward and away from said finger.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 513,772 1/94 Framer 24-259 601,745 4/98. Brewington 24,259 658,965 10/00 Serrna 24-259 719,462 2/03 Gysling 24-259 812,800 2/06 McLean 24-259 873,099 12/07 Shepard et al 3.----. 24259 1,987,166 1/35 Valverde 113-116 2,466,529 4/49 Youngs 132-50.2

2,795,233 6/57 Zore 132-48 3,082,773 3/ 63 Renstrom et a1. 13248 RICHARD GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

LOUIS I. DEMBO, LAVERNE D. GEIGER,

, Examiners. 

4. A ONE PIECE CLAMP COMPRISING AN ELONGATED PIECE OF THIN FLEXIBLE MATERIAL HAVING AN ELONGATED FINGER FORMED THEREIN INTERMEDIATE OF ITS ENDS AND FORMING A CONTINUOUS BAND THEREABOUT, SAID FINGER AND SAID BAND FORMING A COOPERATING PAIR OF CLAMPING MEMBERS, SAID BAND HAVING A VERTICALLY ORIENTED DEPRESSION THEREIN INTERMEDIATE OF ITS ENDS FOR CAUSING SAID BAND TO ASSUME A CONCAVO-CONVEX SHAPE, SAID BAND BEIND DISPLACEABLE IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS ALTERNATELY WITH RESPECT TO THE FREE END OF SAID FINGER IN RESPONSE TO A SELECTED FORCE APPLIED TO SNAP SAID MEMBERS TOWARDS AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER, THEREBY MAINTAINING SAID CLAMP OPEN OR CLOSED. 